British Red Cross launches digital campaign to boost first aid skills knowledge

The British Red Cross is targeting the UK’s estimated 10.5 million runners with a new digital campaign that it hopes will spread the knowledge of vital first aid skills. The charity’s #UpYourGame campaign hopes to encourage runners, clubs and coaches to learn the essential skills needed to act in an emergency. British Red Cross  research revealed today shows that 84% of runners think sports people have a responsibility to look after each other, yet over half (58%) would not have the confidence to help their running partners in a first aid emergency. Word of the campaign is being spread by social media and is supported by a dedicated website section, a series of educational videos and the charity’s purpose-built smartphone app, something that it’s hoped will be effective given the proliferation of smartphone-based running and fitness apps. Joe Mulligan, head of first aid education at The British Red Cross said: “Nothing should stand in the way of someone pursuing their much-loved sporting activity. But injuries and accidents do happen from time to time. “The benefits of first aid are well recognised and our new #UpYourGame campaign hopes to encourage an active British public to incorporate first aid learning into their sporting routine.”